The truth about Butterfingers - Burnt My Fingers (2024)

We look forward to Halloween season (which now seems to start in August) because it gives us an excuse to buy those bags of “fun size” candy and pretend they’re somehow healthy because of the smaller form factor even though we eat a ton of them. And Butterfingers (named in the 1920s after baseball fielders who can’t hold onto the ball, perhaps because their hands are already full of candy) are our perennial favorites.

We love Butterfingers for the “crispity, crunchity” centers that aerate the texture so the peanut flavor becomes more pronounced. And we were delighted to discover the secret ingredient in Butterfingers that gives them their unique texture is… corn flakes! This Food Network video tells the story in a mouthwatering way, with lots of fun commentary from the candy makers themselves.

The truth about Butterfingers - Burnt My Fingers (2)

Fun Size Butterfingers bar. Note absence of Nestle logo.

But the truth about Butterfingers is that they no longer contain corn flakes and have not since the brand was acquired from Nestle by Ferrero (the Nutella folks) in 2018. According to this Today article, the goal in the reformulation was a “richer, creamier taste” along with reducing processed ingredients and trans fats.

So how do they retain their magical texture with the secret ingredient removed? The official Ferraro Foodservice website says the ingredients in the new bars are “corn syrup, sugar, peanuts, vegetable oil (palm kernel and palm oil), peanut flour, nonfat milk, less than 2% of cocoa, milk, salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor, annatto color”. Aha, peanut flour. Just as almond flour can substitute for wheat flour in baking recipes, we suspect the peanut flour is teased into a cornflaky texture.

In any case, Butterfingers still satisfy so fully we’re anointing them the official candy of Burnt My Fingers in spite of some tough competition from Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups and just good old fashioned peanut butter itself.

Pastry Chef Online has an ingenious copycat recipe using cornflakes (as well as candy corn, which pinch hits for corn syrup and molasses) which might be the closest you can come to trying the “old” formulation today. But truthfully we’ve been eating Butterfingers all along and never noticed the changeover. Our bag of “fun size” is gone through research as we wrote this post, so we’ll just have to go out and buy another.

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The truth about Butterfingers - Burnt My Fingers (2024)

FAQs

How unhealthy is Butterfinger? ›

Butterfinger is the worst offender—there's no quicker way to swallow 100 calories. Contain: 140 calories, 1.5 g fat (1 g saturated), 19 g sugars. The basic formula for an Airhead: Sugar and filler carbohydrates, artificial colors and flavors, and partially hydrogenated oils, a source of trans fat.

Why were Butterfingers discontinued? ›

However, Butterfinger did directly address the topic on social media, explaining that the stoppage of BB's had to do with profits. In reply to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the candy manufacturer stated, "Sadly, Butterfinger BB's were discontinued due to low sales."

How bad are Butterfingers for your teeth? ›

Taffy and caramel candies, these are hard on your teeth and can increase decay. Crunchy bars, such as Butterfinger bars that have hard centers. Hard candies, such as sour candies with high acid levels that can hurt your teeth and break down enamel.

Why are butterfingers called butterfingers? ›

His Curtiss Candy Company, based in Chicago, ran a contest to name the bar. At the time sportscasters began using the term “butterfingers” to describe players who couldn't hold onto the ball. A Chicago man who described himself as a klutz submitted the name “Butterfinger” for the bar and it was a winner.

Why is Butterfinger banned in Germany? ›

Butterfinger was withdrawn from the market in Germany in 1999, because of consumer rejection when it was one of the first products to be identified as containing genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) from corn.

Why are butterfingers so good? ›

We love Butterfingers for the “crispity, crunchity” centers that aerate the texture so the peanut flavor becomes more pronounced. And we were delighted to discover the secret ingredient in Butterfingers that gives them their unique texture is… corn flakes!

Why are butterfingers so flaky? ›

The filling layers will be composed of a peanut mixture and corn flakes in place of the butter used for laminated doughs. The thin, brittle layers of the resulting candy are tender to the bite without hurting your teeth, and the cornflakes help to amplify the crunch.

What is the reason for butterfingers? ›

Butterfingers is caused by stress, stress produces adrenaline, adrenaline creates physical agitation, if the physical agitation isn't fully expressed, it causes the hands to shake or creates tension in hand tendons that cause the hands to clench.

What candy do dentists hate the most? ›

Sticky or chewy candy is top of the list for candy to avoid. This is because the chewier and stickier a candy is, the more likely that it will leave a sugary residue in the crevices of your teeth or between your teeth.

What candy causes the most cavities? ›

Which Candy Causes The Most Cavities?
  • Candy Corn. Love it or hate it, this sticky candy is everywhere during the fall. ...
  • Taffy. This delectable treat comes in a ton of different flavors and can be incredibly delicious. ...
  • Lollipops. ...
  • Sour Candy. ...
  • Popcorn. ...
  • Best Practices.
Oct 10, 2022

What is the most unhealthy drink for your teeth? ›

Soda & Juice

Soda and juice are two of the worst drinks for your teeth because of their high sugar content. They're essentially like eating a dessert because they're so sweet. Juice can also have a widespread negative effect on kids, especially ones that drink juice all day long.

What is the oldest candy bar still made? ›

Fry & Sons and currently manufactured by Cadbury. Launched in 1866—nineteen years after Fry's created the first moulded, solid chocolate eating bar (in 1847)— Fry's Chocolate Cream is the first mass-produced chocolate bar and is the world's oldest chocolate bar brand.

What's the number one candy in the world? ›

According to Simply SweetOpens a new window, in the United States, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and M&M's reign supreme, whereas citizens of France, Mexico, and Egypt are more likely to opt for gum. Those in China and Saudi Arabia prefer Dove bars.

Are Butterfingers good for you? ›

Not to mention, they're known to stick in your teeth, which can cause cavities. This 240-calorie treat has nine grams of fat, seven of which are saturated. One regular Butterfinger contain 275 calories, 29 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of fat, six of which are saturated.

When were Butterfingers discontinued? ›

As for when Butterfinger BB's were officially yanked from store shelves, it seems that they were discontinued by 2006. The move raised the ire of Butterfinger fans, who were equally flummoxed when the brand decided to change its recipe in 2019.

What is Butterfingers slang for? ›

A butterfingers is someone with a clumsy tendency to drop things they're holding. Being a butterfingers is considered a particularly bad trait in baseball, for obvious reasons. The common use of this term by sportscasters in the 1920s inspired the name for the newly-invented candy known as Butterfinger.

What is the most unhealthy candy bar? ›

Here are the top five candy bars to avoid:
  • 3 Musketeers.
  • Milky Way.
  • Baby Ruth.
  • Chocolatey PayDay. They're like a normal PayDay bar wrapped in chocolate.
  • Mr. Goodbar.
Oct 8, 2020

Is one candy bar a day bad? ›

While an occasional candy bar can be part of an otherwise healthy diet, eating candy regularly can negatively affect your health. Too much candy can provide you with large amounts of unhealthy substances, such as sugars and fats.

Why do butterfingers taste bad now? ›

The company began with Butterfinger and reworked the formula to use bigger peanuts, more milk and cocoa, and fewer hydrogenated oils. The new version also no longer incorporates the chemical preservative TBHQ. With these changes, they were shooting for a more chocolate-centric flavor with purer ingredients.

What happens to your body when you eat a candy bar? ›

Your insulin spikes to regulate your blood sugar. "Once you eat glucose, your body releases insulin, a hormone from your pancreas," Dr. Sam explains. The insulin's job is to absorb the excess glucose in the blood and stabilize sugar levels.

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